Labour pledges more funding to grassroots football

Labour is today highlighting our manifesto commitment to ensure five per cent of the Premier League’s domestic and international television rights income is diverted to the grassroots game.

The pledge will help the next generation of players and coaches by drastically improving facilities and pitches.

Labour have also committed to working with train operating companies, broadcasters and clubs to develop a new ‘Flexible Football Ticket’ so that fans experience minimal disruption when games are switched.

This will stop fans being left with worthless train tickets and having to fork out again for new tickets when games are re-arranged at short notice.

The party’s manifesto also commits Labour to:

Put fans at the heart of their clubs – by legislating for accredited supporters trusts to be able to appoint and remove at least two club directors and to purchase shares when clubs change hands. We will also review fan participation in sports governance more widely.

Fix the broken ticketing market – by enforcing anti-bot legislation and implementing the recommendations of the Waterson review to ensure fair opportunities for fans to buy tickets.

Improve access provision for disabled sports fans – by ensuring that rapid improvements are made and by prioritising action to make clubs comply with obligations under the 2010 Equality Act.

Ensure that investment and support is given to grassroots women’s football so as many women and girls as possible can benefit from participating in football.

To address a lack of funding and lack of facilities, Labour in government will ensure that five per cent of domestic and international TV rights money is diverted to the grassroots game. This will ensure the footballing talent of young girls and boys is harnessed, and football is a game for the many, not the few.